BREAKOUT: Toyota 86

Hey, want a cleanskin? Same source, same quality, but cheaper? The base manual of the Toyota 86 is priced from a surprisingly low $29,990 – exactly the same price at which the MX-5 was launched more than two decades ago (and the Mazda price didn’t include air con, anti-lock brakes, stability control or Bluetooth. Blue what?).

When you start specifying options and/or adjusting for the varying standard equipment, the prices asked for the BRZ and 86 are remarkably (and unsurprisingly) close. They are, after all, much the same car. The sheet metal is identical, with some detail difference to bumpers and lights, the interior materials are slightly varied, but the drivetrain is also identical (both brand names are stamped on the engine cover, no matter which you buy). Chassis differences are tiny. We’re told the Toyota has a slightly stiffer front suspension than the Subie, though it’s pretty hard to feel on the road.

Importantly for many, the base model Toyota offers a way to capture the excitement of this new model at a significantly lower entry point. There’s also a better chance of snaring one, as Subaru’s supply is at this stage extremely tight.Tony Davis